Here are a few random thoughts about the sign preservation project that volunteers with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association completed this past weekend at the Lincoln Motel in Chandler, Okla.: 1. Don't use household latex paint on an outdoors sign. This advice may seem elementary, but it became apparent during prepping that the Lincoln Motel's … Continue reading Observations from a preservation project
Category: Preservation
Missouri holds new meeting for Route 66 bridge
(Note: see time correction below) Norma Bolin, who's best-known for her "Route 66 St. Louis Cookbook" and the recently released "Route 66 St. Louis," dropped me a note over the weekend to let me know that the Missouri Department of Transportation made a last-minute change on a public meeting regarding the Route 66 bridge at … Continue reading Missouri holds new meeting for Route 66 bridge
Historic sign gets a partial face-lift
The sign at the historic Lincoln Motel in Chandler, Okla., received half a face-lift Saturday from Oklahoma Route 66 Association volunteers. I say "half," because we only had time to scrape and repaint the sign's west side. Volunteers are going to finish the sign's east side tomorrow, starting at 8 a.m. until it's done sometime … Continue reading Historic sign gets a partial face-lift
Bringing back the Illinois prairie
I didn't know this existed, but the Montgomery County Natural Area Guardians have been diligently trying to restore an 8-acre tract off of Route 66 north of Litchfield, Ill., into its original prairie state. According to the Journal-News in nearby Hillsboro, Ill., the group will hold an annual free education day at 4 p.m. Thursday … Continue reading Bringing back the Illinois prairie
Saviors of the Wigwam Motel
Gary Warner of the Orange County (Calif.) Register takes a closer look at the three remaining Wigwam Motels in the United States, two of which are on Route 66. The third is in Cave City, Ky. All of the motels are praiseworthy. But the one that receives the most accolades is the Wigwam in San … Continue reading Saviors of the Wigwam Motel
Booklet on Tulsa’s neon signs to be published
The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture and Leadership Tulsa are publishing a booklet about the city's historic neon signs, including many on Route 66. The booklet, "Tulsa Vintage Neon Signs," will be distributed during a release party at one of the sites of a historic sign, El Rancho Grande restaurant on Route 66, at 5-6:45 p.m. … Continue reading Booklet on Tulsa’s neon signs to be published
Caravan of motorcycles older than the Mother Road
Dozens of long-distance motorcycle cruises are organized on the Mother Road each year. But this one is too unusual to ignore. In a few days, the Pre-1916 Motorcycle Cannonball endurance run begins in Kitty Hawk, N.C., and ends 17 days later at the shores of Santa Monica, Calif. The caravan will drive on a large … Continue reading Caravan of motorcycles older than the Mother Road
Lincoln Motel sign gets face-lift next weekend
Volunteers with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will put a new coat of paint on the historic Lincoln Motel's neon sign in Chandler, Okla., on Sept. 11-12, and you're invited to join the effort. Repainting will begin from about 8 a.m. and end at dark each day, weather permitting, at the motel at 740 E. … Continue reading Lincoln Motel sign gets face-lift next weekend
Route 66 cost-share grants announced
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program on Friday announced in its quarterly newsletter its annual cost-share grants for historic Route 66 businesses and landmarks. Most of the information comes from the newsletter or news release, except where I added links and other information. The recipients are: Historic Seligman Sundries, Seligman, Ariz. -- With its distinct false front, … Continue reading Route 66 cost-share grants announced
Blue Swallow Motel put up for sale
Bill Kinder, co-owner and operator of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., for the past four years, has decided to place the historic Route 66 landmark for sale because of a recurrence of cancer. Kinder and his wife Terri purchased the Blue Swallow in 2006. He was diagnosed with cancer shortly after, about the same time … Continue reading Blue Swallow Motel put up for sale